Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Hiroshima Accord signed by the British and Japanese Prime Ministers on 18 May 2023, what progress he has made on revitalising people-to-people exchanges between the UK and Japan through (a) those in education through study abroad, (b) the youth mobility scheme and (c) other areas.

On 21 June the Foreign Secretary met Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The Foreign Secretary and Minister Hayashi confirmed our joint desire to continue strengthening UK-Japan bilateral relations, building on the landmark Hiroshima Accord signed by our respective Prime Ministers on 18 May. People-to-people exchanges between the UK and Japan, including in education and youth mobility schemes, are a key part of the Accord agenda. Consultations with the Japanese government in this regard are ongoing.